Local News

A motorcyclist died after a crash involving a semi on U.S. 20 Wednesday afternoon, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were called to the 4000 west block of U.S. 20 at around 4:00 p.m., for a crash involving a motorcycle and a commercial motor vehicle. The initial crash investigation showed that a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle, being driven by 29 year-old Timothy R. Hefner of Michigan City, had been traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 in the driving lane. A 2004 Peterbilt tractor, pulling a flatbed trailer, had been traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 in the driving lane. The

The Porter County Search and Rescue Team (PCSRT) successfully completed another mission, thanks to K-9 Jakob, Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig’s partner, according to the Town of Chesterton. The search took place in Wheatfield, after a 10-year-old girl whom Craig characterized as “despondent” went missing Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 13, the Town of Chesterton reported. Craig got the call at 6:22 p.m., some two hours after the girl was last seen running into a cornfield. Craig and PCSRT responded, with Jakob, and arrived at the scene at 7:10 p.m. to join other agencies already searching. His first stop was the girl’s

The Chesterton Town Council has entered into a contract with American StructurePoint of Merrillville to design a new police station, according to the Town of Chesterton. At the Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Associate Town Attorney Connor Nolan reported that, over the past several months, staff and legal have been in discussions with American StructurePoint “on selecting the most ideal location” for a new police station and “developing a schedule and a proposed design fee,” the Town of Chesterton is reporting. According to Nolan the fee, “appears to be reasonable and in line with the market for similar proposed projects”:

The La Porte Park and Recreation Department has started the process of preparing a La Porte Park and Recreation Department seeking public input on five-year master plan to improve parks and recreation opportunities to improve parks and recreation opportunities throughout the city. Public input is being sought to provide the framework and set the priorities for those proposed improvements. All residents are encouraged to take an online survey available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRPCY22 through October 7. The La Porte Park and Recreation Department stated, “We want the master plan to reflect the desires and needs of the community. Therefore, the citizens’ responses

Lane restrictions will occur on State Road 51 for a bridge deck overlay starting next week. Crews will be working between I-80/94 and Old Hobart Road starting on or after Sept. 19 with work expected to wrap up by mid-October. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. During construction traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on the northbound side of the bridge while work on the southbound side takes place. The Indiana Department of Transportation encourages drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction free when traveling

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host its annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of cultural and academic events starting Sept. 13 and continuing through October. PNW’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities engage the campus community and the public with events highlighting the Latinx communities’ history, culture, cuisine, and contributions to the world. Information about event times and locations can be found at pnw.edu/hispanic-heritage-month. The celebration kicks off on Sept. 13 with a Mexican Independence Day celebration, hosted by PNW’s Spanish Club student organization, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Founders Plaza on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th

The La Porte County Health Department is sharing information on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, called Bivalent. The health department says the vaccine is a new — authorized for use as a single booster dose — booster to individuals 18 years of age and older. Appointments available on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the La Porte county health department La Porte office 809 State Street, Ste 401 A, La Porte, IN 46350, 219-326-6808 ext. 2200. Appointments must be scheduled online at www.coronavirus.in.gov .

The South Shore Line has given a new update on the South Shore Line Double Track NWI project: GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. Work is underway at the new east lot. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) is closed, the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Hwy will remain open with some lane restrictions until September 14, 2022. Construction activities may occur on the shoulder of Old US 12/Dunes Hwy.  Construction

At the first-ever Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala in Indianapolis last Friday, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) awarded up to $4.21 million to schools across the state to celebrate their progress and achievement in supporting student excellence and growth. The gala brought together nearly 400 educators and guests from across the state. The event recognized the 2022 Indiana Teacher of the Year top 10 finalists, Indiana’s 2021 Milken Educator and also awarded the school corporation and teacher who engaged most with the Indiana Learning Lab, a professional development resource for Indiana educators. Additionally, IDOE awarded school corporations with up

Two Valparaiso High School students, Cameron Hosek and Katherine Stalmah, have been named to the Advisory Human Relations Council for the City of Valparaiso. Mayor Matt Murphy stated, “We welcome Cameron and Katherine to the Council and thank them for sharing their time and insight as students at Valparaiso High School. When we conceived the Mayor’s Youth Council last year, we were looking to encourage more youth to become engaged in the community. It’s exciting to see the interest of these young leaders.” Both Hosek and Stalmah are graduates of the inaugural Mayor’s Youth Council. Hosek will graduate from VHS

A traditional, yearly memorial the Duneland community has come to love and appreciate, has resumed its original format of placing 2977 small U.S. flags in the grassy area in front of the Chesterton High School Stadium along 11th St. in Chesterton. Each flag bears the name of a soul lost on Sept. 11, 2001 in the tragic attacks on America. The tradition of placing the small flags in the ground was altered over the past two years, and was replaced with a large flag on the fence during the pandemic. Each year since 2007, Chesterton High School students and staff

LaPorte County Parks has announced that the Pioneer Days Festival has been canceled.  They stated the following: “Due to a seasonal staff shortage, we will not be hosting the annual Pioneer Days Festival Scheduled for September 24 and 25 at Creek Ridge County Park. The maintenance staff had major projects to complete this year at Bluhm County Park. Without the help from seasonal staff, they had to do the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep at all the parks while completing these major projects.  They never complained and were able to keep all the parks maintained at a high level. By adding

Indiana, along with many other states, was affected by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza earlier this year. Avian influenza declined through the summer months; however, some states have had a recent increase in wild bird deaths associated with the disease. DNR advises hunters to be aware of a potential resurgence of avian influenza as the waterfowl hunting seasons progress. Indiana DNR partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to test hunter-harvested waterfowl for highly pathogenic avian influenza during early teal season at multiple DNR Fish & Wildlife areas, including Goose Pond, LaSalle, and Jasper-Pulaski. Symptoms

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has been recognized for its campus diversity and several undergraduate programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 annual Best Colleges rankings, released on Monday.  PNW is ranked in the top 20 of Midwest regional universities for campus ethnic diversity. Among only public institutions, PNW ranked third. Enrollment data shows PNW’s undergraduate population is over 25% Hispanic or Latino and almost 11% Black or African American. The U.S. News category shows the likelihood students attending a university or college will encounter other students from different ethnicities. PNW is additionally ranked among Midwest regional universities for social

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle and van that left one person dead and three people injured Saturday.  At around 4:04 p.m. deputies responded to the intersection of U.S. 421 and U.S. 6 for a crash involving a motorcycle and a van.  The initial crash investigation determined that a 1993 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, driven by 58-year-old Matthew W. Spicker of Valparaiso, was traveling westbound on U.S. 6.  A 2013 Chrysler van driven by a 37 year-old Wanatah resident, along with two passengers was traveling southbound on U.S. 421.   Police say the motorcycle failed to

The Chesterton Police Department will have a new assistant chief after former Assistant Chief Dan Rocha left the department after 21 years to pursue an opportunity in the private sector, the Town of Chesterton is reporting. At its meeting Thursday afternoon, Sept. 8, the Chesterton Police Commission voted unanimously to authorize Police Chief Tim Richardson to make Sgt. Francisco Rodriguez of the Porter Police Department, a job offer, starting Monday, Sept. 26. Immediately on his swearing in that morning Rodriguez was appointed to the position of Assistant Chief. Rodriguez was also formerly part of the Michigan City Police Department for

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is addressing incidents where several animals were dropped off unattended at the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control and Adoption Center. Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. announced on Friday that over the past week and a half, seven animals had been dropped off outside of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control and Adoption Center and left unattended. Martinez stated. “We truly care about pets. People who abandon them put them at risk of attack by predators, wandering into traffic or getting hurt or killed in various other ways. Anyone who wants to leave pets at

Michigan City Area Schools have announced a new ‘Behavior, Attendance, and Grade’ (BAG) report will be coming soon to parents/guardians of all students in Grades 5-12. The report will provide families with up-to-date information about how their student is doing. The BAG reports will be emailed home four times a year, halfway through each grading period. The first one will be sent out on Monday, September 12. MCAS asks parents and guardians, to check their email for more information.

In partnership with Indiana Operation Lifesaver, the South Shore Line will again be participating in National Rail Safety Week, taking place Sept. 19-23, in which their teams will continue to spread awareness of rail safety to the surrounding communities in which they operate. During Rail Safety Week, SSL representatives will be present at Millennium Station and Sept. 21, at East Chicago throughout the morning commute educational materials about train and grade- crossing safety, answering any questions, and distributing listening to commuters' safety concerns. The blitzes are part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around